Senior Director, Complex Systems

Clean Air Task Force

. Shape enterprise priorities and lead the Complex Systems portfolio with clear direction, sound judgment, and accountability .

Posted 9/22/2026full-timeRemote • United States, United Kingdom, BelgiumSeniorWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates extensive experience in leading complex programs and shaping strategies that influence policy outcomes in climate, energy, and environmental sectors. Proven ability to build relationships with senior stakeholders and guide systems-level climate solutions across diverse disciplines and geographies.

Highest-signal resume keywords

15+ Years Experience In Climate PolicySenior Leadership In Complex ProgramsStrategy Development And Policy InfluenceBuilding Trusted Relationships With StakeholdersExperience In Fundraising And Donor Engagement

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Systems-Level Climate StrategyPolicy DevelopmentProgram Planning And BudgetingPortfolio ManagementTechnical Expertise In Climate SolutionsAdvocacy StrategyCross-Regional CollaborationOrganizational Strategy ContributionDecarbonization StrategiesMarket Analysis

Soft Skills

Leadership Capacity BuildingTeam EffectivenessAccountabilityCommunicationInfluencing And Negotiation

Industry Keywords

Climate SolutionsEnergy PolicyEnvironmental PolicyPhilanthropic PartnershipsNonprofit EnvironmentsAdvocacyResearchHard-To-Abate SectorsTransportation SystemsIndustrial Decarbonization

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Shape enterprise priorities and lead the Complex Systems portfolio with clear direction, sound judgment, and accountability
Ensure the individual missions of Land, Transportation, and Industry remain central to portfolio decisions
Develop and advance a cohesive systems-level strategy connecting technical expertise, policy, infrastructure, finance, innovation, and markets
Identify opportunities for greater impact across programs, portfolios, disciplines, and regions
Strengthen impact, stewardship, and people leadership across the portfolio
Support program leaders, clarify outcomes, monitor progress, build leadership and technical capacity, and help teams navigate trade-offs and barriers
Guide globally relevant policy and advocacy priorities grounded in technical, economic, political, and market realities
Partner with regional advocacy teams to adapt strategies to local contexts and influence policy outcomes
Direct portfolio planning, budgeting, prioritization, and shared investments
Build alignment across programs, solution portfolios, regions, and organizational functions
Serve as a senior external representative and shape narratives for systems-level climate solutions
Guide policy positions and thought leadership and build relationships across government, industry, finance, academia, media, philanthropy, and civil society
Partner with Development, Communications, and senior leadership on fundraising strategy and funder relationships
Report to the Chief of Programs & Advocacy and serve on CATF’s Impact Leaders Group

Requirements

What you’ll need

15+ years of progressively responsible experience in climate, energy, environmental, or related policy fields
Senior leadership responsibility for complex programs, portfolios, departments, or multidisciplinary teams
Demonstrated record of shaping strategy and influencing policy outcomes in complex climate, energy, environmental, government, industry, advocacy, research, or related settings
Experience leading senior leaders and strengthening leadership capacity, team effectiveness, accountability, and succession readiness
Deep understanding of systems-level climate challenges and barriers to transforming land, transportation, and industrial systems
Experience building and executing strategies connecting technical, policy, financial, market, organizational, and regional considerations
Ability to lead across functions, disciplines, and geographies in a matrixed organization while respecting program missions and subject-matter expertise
Experience representing an organization and building trusted relationships with senior external stakeholders, such as policymakers, funders, industry leaders, and strategic partners
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in a field relevant to the role
Candidates must be authorized to work in their country of employment
Preferred: experience with fundraising, donor engagement, or philanthropic partnerships
Preferred: experience working across the U.S., Europe, and other regional contexts in a global or cross-regional organization
Preferred: familiarity with hard-to-abate sectors, land systems, transportation, industrial decarbonization, carbon management, fuels, or related climate solutions
Preferred: experience contributing to organizational strategy, portfolio design, or operating model change
Preferred: familiarity with nonprofit, policy, advocacy, technical, research, philanthropic, or mission-driven environments

Benefits

Comp & perks

An excellent benefits package
Benefits aligned to your country of employment
Flexible, remote working environment within the U.S. or Europe
Mission-driven work supporting practical, durable climate solutions
Collaborative and intellectually curious culture where diverse perspectives are valued
Exposure to cross-functional collaboration with program, regional advocacy, Development, Communications, and senior leadership teams, as well as external partners and funders